Ghana’s former President and flag-bearer of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has served notice that his administration will probe into the cancellation of the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana deal with the Electricity Company (ECG) if voted to lead the country again.
Eligible Ghanaians will be going to the polls on December 7, this year, for yet another general elections.
According to the former President, there are many unresolved issues surrounding the PDS deal, which was cancelled a few months after its operationalisation.
Ghana’s power distribution company, ECG, on behalf of the Government of Ghana and under the Ghana Power Compact II, entered into a concession agreement with Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana for period of 20 years.
Per the agreement, ECG was to be the assets owner while PDS was to be responsible for the distribution and retail business of electricity.
The agreement took effect from March 1, 2019.
However, few months into the operations of PDS, controversy started unfolding around the deal with the government alleging fraud in the deal.
The President, Akufo-Addo, later terminated the deal, citing fundamental and material breach of the agreement on the part of PDS.
Officials of PDS, who were not happy about the government’s decision, have since taken the matter to court.
However, speaking in an interview with TV XYZ and as monitored by energynewsafrica.com, Mr. Mahama resurrected the debate on the PDS saga, promising to open investigation into the issue if voted back to power.
“If I become President, we will investigate PDS especially when it is obvious that persons related to the President were involved in structuring the deal,” he assured Ghanaians.
The former President said there is enough evidence to warrant a probe of PDS.
John Mahama said there is the need for an account to be given of the monies collected by PDS during the time it was managing the country’s power sector.
“The people of Ghana need to know what happened because this was a situation in which the assets of a state-owned institution were being handed over to a private company. As I speak today, for the period that PDS collected money when they were running the ECG, monies that ran into billions of cedis had not been accounted for People cannot just pocket state monies and walk freely with it,” Mahama said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Sasol, integrated energy and chemical company has selected seven small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) from in and around Sasolburg in the Free State to take part in its newly launched 24-month Sasol Business Accelerator (SBA) programme.
The businesses are in the manufacturing, engineering services, engineering maintenance, hired equipment, HVAC and recyclables industries.
“They were selected through a stringent and thorough four week selection process managed by Zevoli, which is an independent third-party company appointed by Sasol to assist with the selecting and screening of potential candidates for the programme,” Ofentse Tiro, Enterprise and Supplier Manager at Sasol said in a statement issued by the company.
In May this year, Sasol announced that applications were open for SMMEs that are located in Metsimaholo, Emfuleni and Ngwathe Local Municipalities operating in the above-mentioned sectors to join the SBA programme. The deadline for applications was Wednesday, 17 June 2020.
The company said it received nearly 200 applications for the programme SMMEs from even outside of the specified municipal areas.
However, as Sasol’s commitment is to primarily develop SMMEs in its fence-line communities, focus was on those in the Free State.
The seven successful SMMEs will kick-off the programme this week with a three-day induction training that starts today (Monday 24,2020).
The purpose is to provide the companies with an overview of Sasol’s operations, highlight the importance of safety, and outline what they can expect over the coming months in relation to the accelerator programme.
The SMMEs will based at the Sasol Business Incubator in Sasolburg. Located inside Sasol’s Eco-industrial Park in Sasolburg, the facility is fully-equipped and structured to host and enable this diverse mix of businesses to be developed into larger companies.
The 24-month SBA programme, which kicks off this week, will focus on infrastructure support, development support, mentoring and coaching, networking and funding support.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
The Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Mike Sangster, has attributed the decline in oil and gas exploration activities in West Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, to what he described as an inconsistent fiscal and regulatory policy of the Federal Government.
According to a report filed by Vanguard, Mike Sangster argued that there are no proportionate exploration activities to ensure long term sustainability and replenishment of the resource that accounts for more than 90 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
“Total as a key stakeholder in the Nigerian oil and gas industry is prepared to work with the government, partners, and other stakeholders, to address these bottlenecks to new exploration investments,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.
Sangster also noted that the adverse effect of the raging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on lives and businesses, especially the Oil & Gas industry, cannot be overemphasized.
He was reported to have said this at the monthly technical presentation of Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) last Wednesday.
He stated: “These will have implications on the investment strategies and imperatives for businesses and even governments around the world. NAPE should adapt to a post-Coronavirus world and seek ways of reinventing itself for the purpose of continued relevance.
“I have no doubt that the respectable membership of this body will take advantage of this month’s presentation to make deliberate, robust, and incisive contributions aimed at addressing the many challenges confronting our industry and nation.”
He said that Total contributed $3.2 million (N1.2 billion) as part of the N21 billion donation spearheaded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in support of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 efforts.
“The company also supported the Lagos State Government with critical supplies and medical equipment. In Rivers State, we reached out to our stakeholders by providing medical supplies and support for our host communities and the State Government.
“Our downstream company, Total Nigeria Plc donated N50 million as part of a combined contribution from the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), under the auspices of the NNPC and provided the Lagos State Government with fuel for logistical support during the pandemic,” he added.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
A fire at a hydroelectric power plant operated by Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGenco) has killed nine workers in the town of Srisailam, south east India.
The blaze broke out late on August 20, trapping the nine people in an underground part of the facility, reports energyworld.com.
According to the online portal, a company’s statement identified the deceased as Deputy Engineer Srinivas Goud, Assistant Engineers Venkat Rao, Mohan Kumar, Fatima Ujma, plant attendant Rambabu, junior attendant Kiran and Sundar Kumar, and two technicians from Amararaja company Vinesh Kumar and Mahesh Kumar.
“They tried to come out from the escape tunnel, but could not do so due to the dense smoke,” the company said.
There were 17 people in the plant at the time of the accident. Eight of them could safely come out, but nine were trapped inside the plant, TSGENCO said.
TSGENCO said that the fire incident occurred at 10:30 pm on Thursday.
“The fire accident occurred in the 900 MW capacity hydro electric power station on the left bank of Srisailam reservoir at 10.30 pm on August 20. The fire broke out in the panels in unit 1 of the power station which led to the accident. The employees tried to put off the fire and save the plant from burning. The employees tried their level best till 12 am last night, but in vain,” the statement reads.
“Telangana Power Minister Jagadeeswar Reddy, TS GENCO CMD Devulapalli Prabhakar Rao, GENCO directors and senior employees rushed to the spot and monitored the rescue operations. NDRF, Singareni coal mines technicians and Telangana state fire services rushed to the plant and tried to rescue the trapped ones,” it
added.
The plant is 1.2 km deep from the earth’s surface and there is only one tunnel to go there, TSGENCO said.
“As fire and dense smoke spread, it was not possible to go inside for a very long time. The teams could enter the plant by the afternoon of Friday,” it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have expressed grief at the loss of lives in the incident.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed shock over the fire incident.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
ExxonMobil has signed an agreement with Global Clean Energy Holdings to purchase 2.5 million barrels of renewable diesel per year for five years from a converted California refinery starting in 2022.
The deal was signed at about a week ago.
The renewable diesel will be sourced from a refinery acquired by Global Clean Energy in Bakersfield, California, which is being retooled to produce renewable diesel from Global Clean Energy’s patented varieties of camelina, a fallow land crop that does not displace food crops, and other non-petroleum feedstocks.
Following scheduled production startup in 2022, ExxonMobil plans to distribute the renewable diesel within California and potentially to other domestic and international markets.
“Our agreement with Global Clean Energy builds on ExxonMobil’s longstanding efforts to develop and offer products that help meet society’s energy needs while reducing environmental impacts,” Bryan Milton, president of ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Company said.
“Chemically similar to petroleum-based diesel, renewable diesel can be readily blended for use in engines on the market today.”
“Our relationship with ExxonMobil is a perfect fit for Global Clean Energy and the Bakersfield biorefinery because it leverages ExxonMobil’s scale and unrivaled market perspective to unlock value for both companies,” Richard Palmer, CEO of Global Clean Energy Holdings said.
“By combining upstream feedstock supply and downstream production, we are moving toward the fully integrated production model pioneered by ExxonMobil.”
In addition to camelina, various non-petroleum feedstocks, including used cooking oil, soybean oil, distillers’ corn oil and other renewable sources will be refined to produce the renewable diesel.
Based on analysis of California Air Resources Board (CARB) data, renewable diesel from various non-petroleum feedstocks can provide life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions of approximately 40 percent to 80 percent compared to petroleum-based diesel.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Sasol, intergrated energy and chemical company has announced that it will be donating 10 000 litres of methanol and 600 kg of hydrogen every month until the end of April 2021 to help power the field ICU facility of 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.
According to the company, it is also working with its customers, Air Products and Protea Chemicals, to assist with logistics for supplying the fuels to 1 Military hospital.
The company made this promise following the unveiling of five methanol fuel cell systems and two hydrogen fuel cell systems, which will be used at Pretoria’s 1 Military Hospital as a primary source of power for the field hospital facilities established as part of Government’s response to COVID-19.
The project was a partnership between the DSI, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Department of Defence, and private sector companies.
In addition to it being part of government’s COVID-19 response, it is also integral to government’s vision to integrate hydrogen within the economy, motivated by the benefits that will accrue as a result, which include decarbonising the economy.
“This is an important initiative for Sasol for many reasons,” Charlotte Mokoena, Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Sasol said in a press release.
“In addition to the fact that this contribution espouses who we are as Sasol and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting and collaborating with government in executing innovative solutions to current challenges, it also illustrates the direction Sasol is taking. We are deliberately pursuing renewable energy sources through technology, innovation and collaboration, and sustainably produced hydrogen is integral to us reducing our carbon footprint across our operations.”
Sasol pledged its commitment to continue working with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in the process towards the development of a South African Hydrogen Roadmap.
“We see public-private and private-private partnerships as critical in decarbonising South Africa’s energy landscape, whilst fulfilling socio-economic and sustainable development goals,” Mokoena said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The Akufo-Addo-led governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has assured Ghanaians that it will continue to build critical infrastructure for the country’s energy industry, reduce distribution losses, improve reliability in power supply as well as increase power and natural gas exports to the West African sub-region if they retain power in December 7, 2020, polls.
Speaking at the launching of the NPP’s 2020 Manifesto in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Saturday, Deputy Energy Minister in charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam said the next NPP-led government will continue to pursue its plan to develop Ghana into a regional petroleum hub in the Western Region of the country.
The Akufo-Addo-administration promised in its 2016 Manifesto to establish petroleum hub in the Western Region, but that vision has not been fully actualised.
Energynewsafrica.com understands that a 200-acre land has been secured in the Western Region for the project.
Our sources from the Ministry of Energy indicate that the Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of infrastructure and MP for Effia Constituency Hon. Joseph Cudjoe recently led a delegation from the Ministry to visit chiefs and elders of the area where the hub is expected to be sighted.
Dr Amin revealed that a bill establishing the Petroleum Hub Corporation is currently under parliamentary consideration.
“We will pursue relevant reforms in the upstream petroleum sector and provide incentives for the revival of exploration activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are on course to building an energy economy, which we are promising you, for the rapid industrialisation and transformation of our country
“Your vote for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP means a vote for the efficient management of the energy sector,” he stressed.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
Ghana’s ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has touted its records in the country’s energy sector as the best in the fourth Republic.
The West African nation will be going to the polls on December 7, 2020, to elect a president and Members of Parliament to rule the country for the next four years.
Ahead of the elections, the governing party is unveiling its 2020 Manifesto at the Cape Coast University, Central Region, which outlines its major policies for the next four.
Delivering a speech to trumpet its achievements to herald the launching of the Manifesto, Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam stated that the NPP is first in the history of Ghana to reduce electricity tariffs by 11 percent on a net basis against an increase in tariffs of 265 percent under the NDC government.
Dr. Amin who is the NPP’s Parliamentary for Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region said, ISSER of Ghana’s Premier University Legon, reported that the inept management of the country’s energy sector, which was christened as ‘Dumsor’, cost the West African nation, US$680 million in 2014, representing about 2 percent of GDP.
He further observed that Ghana’s energy sector faced an unpresented financial crisis under the NDC government which could not even support procurement of fuel to operate the power plants during its era.
“President Akufo-Addo has not found the means to secure fuel supplies over the last three and half years, but has also cleared all government’s owed ECG. We have fully redeemed over US$1 billion of debts accrued by John Mahama and the previous NDC government from Bulk Oil Distribution Companies,” he stressed.
To sustain cash flow in the energy sector and avoid further accumulation of debts, he said they are currently implementing the cash water-fall system.
Dr Amin also mentioned the provision of relevant national infrastructure for the energy sector including the gas reverse-flow project which now allows flow up 120mmscf of gas per day from Takoradi to Tema, thereby, reducing Ghana’s reliance on Nigeria gas.
He noted that the National Hybrid Power System, which is ongoing at Bui Dam and Pwalugu integrated project, which together will increase solar power penetration by 100MW, and move Ghana closer to the national renewable energy target in the generation mix.
According to him, the President Akufo-Addo-led NPP government is on course to building an energy economy, adding that it
has demonstrated unparallel dedication to protecting the welfare of Ghanaians.
“Fellow Ghanaians, as you continue to enjoy the electricity relief, remember that it takes a caring leader to show empathy to his fellow citizens in times of crisis, notwithstanding the cost. This could not have been possible under the John Mahama administration”, he observed.
Additionally, Dr Adam said President Akufo-Addo had demonstrated unparalled dedication to protecting the welfare of Ghanaians during this painful Covid-19 period, and has provided yet another relief package of free electricity to all lifeline customers and five percent reduction to all others.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has commended Emmanuel Lumor, the new General Manager of ECG, Volta Region, for exhibiting best customer service practice.
This was when Mr. Lumor paid a courtesy call on the Asogli State Council in Ho.
Togbe Afede XIV’s verbal commendation was later documented in a letter from the Asogli State Council and issued on 21st August, 2020.
The letter from the Asogli State Council commended Emmanuel Lumor for prompt response to the request of the President of the National House of Chiefs.
The letter added that “Words cannot adequately express our appreciation and gratitude for your kind gesture. We, therefore, pray the Almighty God, Fountain of all good things to shower his blessings upon you.”
Emmanuel Lumor, General Manager of ECG for Volta Region in the Republic of Ghana
Emmanuel Lumor, who assumed office as the General Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Volta Region on Monday 17th, August, 2020, paid a courtesy call on the Asogli State Council to solicit the support of the President of the National House of Chiefs, chiefs, queens and people of the Asogli State.
Mr. Lumor added that “following my appointment as the General Manager of ECG in the region, I am here today to seek the support and blessings of Togbe Afede XIV and the Asogli Traditional Council to enable me succeed in this role.”
Outlining his vision for the region, Mr. Lumor indicated that with the support of the Asogli State, he intended to make Volta Region the hub of excellent customer service in ECG.
“I want Volta Region to be identified with excellent customer care anytime the region is mentioned, so together with my management team, we are putting measures in place to ensure all our customers are satisfied,” he said.
Togbe Afede XIV, who is also the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, was full of praise for the General Manager after receiving an instant solution to a concern he raised during the interaction, highly endorsed the idea of making Volta Region the hub of excellent customer service in ECG.
He said: “You have started on a good note.”
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, Mr. Lumor indicated that he owed his commendation to members of his management team and staff of ECG Volta for playing a major role in responding to the request of Togbe Afede XIV.
He assured the general public that despite receiving the honour, the company would not relent on its quest to provide excellent customer care in the Volta Region.
The General Manager also donated an amount of GHc2,000 in support of the Asogli Education Fund on behalf of the company.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that the country had found significant natural gas resources in the Black Sea.
The discovery of 320 billion cubic metres (11.3 trillion cubic feet) reserve, will help Turkey cut its dependence on energy imports if the gas can be commercially extracted.
Turkey’s drilling ship Faith, which has been operating in and exploration zone known as Tuna-1 since late July, made the find about 100 nautical miles north off the Turkish coast.
Although, Erdogan didn’t reveal whether the 320 billion cubic metres referred to total gas estimates or the amounts that could be extracted, he did say it could come onstream as soon as 2023.
Erdogan said: “This reserve is actually part of a much bigger source. God willing, much more will come,” adding that there would be no stopping until Turkey “becomes a net exporter in energy.”
The country almost completely relies on imports from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran to meet its energy demands, which stood at $41bn (£32bn) last year.
With any reduction in the energy import bill not only boosting government finances but also help ease chronic current account deficit, which puts pressure on the Lira.
Speaking from the deck of the Faith drill ship, Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said: “We will remove the current account deficit from the agenda of our country.”
The gas find is located in waters 2,100 metres deep, Energy minister Fatih Donmez said, with Erdogan announcing operations in the Mediterranean would accelerate.
Turkey has been exploring hydrocarbons in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean — where its survey operation has drawn protests from Greece and Cyprus — with Greek and Turkish warships shadowing a Turkish survey vessel colliding there last week.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com
Saudi Arabia’s state oil behemoth Saudi Aramco has suspended a deal to build a $10 billion refining and petrochemicals complex in China’s northeastern province of Liaoning, reports Economic Times.
The refinery was supposed to be built by Aramco in partnership with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) and Panjin Sincen.
However, the fate of the refinery now hangs in the balance as Aramco is planning to cut down spending in a bid to cope with losses being incurred due to the low prices of oil.
The joint venture was signed last year in February when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was on a visit to Beijing.
As per the deal, once the project would come up, Saudi Arabia was going to supply as much as 70% of the crude for the 300,000-barrel-a-day refinery.
Aramco is said to be planning to cut its capital spending in a bid to maintain a $75 billion dividend amid the low crude oil prices and rising debt.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
U.S. oil exports to China are set to reach a record next month in a sign that Beijing is stepping up purchases to meet its commitments under a landmark trade deal reached earlier this year.
Chinese crude buyers have chartered about 19 tankers for September to send roughly 37 million barrels of oil to China, according to provisional tanker fixtures. If these proceed as planned, the exports would surpass a record set in May at 35.2 million barrels, according to U.S. Census data compiled by Bloomberg.
The May volume was also the most by any U.S. oil buyer for a given month, data show.
Under phase one of the deal, the world’s largest oil importer promised to buy an additional $200 billion of U.S. goods and services in 2020 and 2021, including $52 billion in energy products, in an agreement signed in January. Purchases so far have lagged that target. A review of the deal that was set for for August 15 was canceled, and has yet to be rescheduled.
All but one of the tankers, which can carry about 2 million barrels each, will originate on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Unipec, the trading arm of Chinese’s largest refiners Sinopec, has booked some of those tankers, while a few others were chartered by PetroChina Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp.
Still, fixtures can get canceled or rerouted if market fundamentals change.
Electricity supply in Nigeria is fast improving as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announces all time national peak of 5,420.30MW transmitted through the national grid on August 18, 2020.
A statement posted on TCN’s Twitter said, “This is the highest ever recorded in the nation’s power sector to date, surpassing the previous peak of 5,377.80 recorded on the 1st of August 2020 by 42.50MW.”
According to the company, the Buhari-administration has taken keen interest in developing the West African nation’s power sector by piloting programmes and projects geared at improving the power sector, hence the latest development.
“The gradual but steady improvement in the electricity delivery in the nation’s power sector is attributable to keen interest of the current administration of President Mahammadu Buhari in piloting programmes and projects geared towards growing the power sector, as well as the collective effort of all power sector players in the value chain,” the company said.
“TCN is committed to working assiduously to further stabilise, rehabilitate and expand the grid and urge Nigerians to lend their support by safeguarding electricity installations nationwide,” the company appealed.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, has assured that there will be no loadshedding due to return of three generation units last night.
“Eskom is pleased to announce that the supply constraints has eased sufficiently to allow for the suspension of loadshedding,” the utility company said.
“This also means no loadshedding is anticipated for the rest of the weekend,” the company added.
Eskom explained that three generators were returned to service at the Lethabo, Medupi and Kusile power stations while another unit at Kusile was taken offline for repairs.
Unplanned breakdowns stand at 8,750MW of capacity, adding to the 4,500MW currently out on planned maintenance.
“While the supply constraints has eased for the rest of the weekend, Eskom would like to remind the public to continue using electricity sparingly as the aged generation infrastructure is unpredictable, unreliable and volatile.”
It, however, cautioned that any significant deterioration in the generation performance may necessitate the implementation of load shedding at short notice.
“Eskom would like to thank the people of South Africa for their assistance and patience during the difficulties of load shedding,” the company said.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
